The relationship between burnout and trait emotional intelligence among secondary school teachers in Malaysia

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between Burnout and Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI) among 30 secondary school teachers in Malaysia. The participants were administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educator's Survey (MBI-ES) which breaks burnout into three subscales: Emotional Exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DP), and Personal Accomplishment (PA). The TEIQue-SF self report questionnaire was also used to elicit information on the respondents’ EI. Descriptive Statistics, including mean and standard deviation, was used to analyze the data. Pearson Correlation Analysis was also used to analyze the correlation between the teachers’ Burnout and TEI scores. Guilford’s (1973) Rule of Thumb was used to determine the strength of the relationship. The results showed significant correlation only between Depersonalization (DP) and TEI. Implications of the study are discussed, and suggestions are given for further research.